When the school bell rang earlier this month, Sunterra welcomed not one, but two elementary schools to the community. That’s right, Cross Elementary and Royal Prairie Elementary opened their doors for the first time, at the same time, cutting commute times for parents of kindergarten through fifth grade students throughout our community.
The Cross Cavaliers are charging full speed ahead into the future. Part of Katy ISD, this $58 million, 157,000-square-foot campus is an impressive space designed for learning and connection. Built to accommodate up to 1,386 students, the school opened its doors to more than 1,100 eager learners.
What makes Cross Elementary special is the way it encourages teamwork and community. Each hallway includes a shared activity area where students from different classes can work together. There’s also a dedicated space for volunteers, making it easy for parents and locals to lend a hand. And let’s not forget the solar panels, which help the school operate more efficiently while cutting costs.
Royal Prairie Elementary, part of Royal ISD, brings its own brand of excellence. At 110,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art campus is designed to serve up to 800 students, with 400 already enrolled. The mission of the school is to provide all young Eagles with a safe, inclusive and engaging learning environment.
At the helm is Dr. Doreen Martinez, a finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Principal of the Year award. When it comes to programming, Royal Prairie offers one-way bilingual instruction to support its multicultural student body, along with specialized programs like Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) and Life Skills classes. These programs ensure that every student’s unique needs are met with care and expertise.
We’d just like to welcome our newly minted Cavaliers and Eagles to their new schools. The future is looking pretty bright in Sunterra—and not just because of those solar panels.
